CEREMONIAL SWORD

French, ca.1745, Royal Weapons Manufactory Klingenthal (Alsace).
Iron hilt, composed of cast and forged parts, parcel-gilt. Spherical pommel, rivet head, the knuckle guard ends in the grip base, short quillon arm, two ornamental grip hooks, guard plate consisting of kidney-shaped halves. Opulently carved and chiseled decoration on gold background: trophies with war equipment, rocailles. Grip wrapped with original silver wire and with embossed grip rings. Blade with triangular cross-section (L 75.5 cm), gilt and with etched decoration, signed "KLINGENTHAL". Scabbard covered with parchment, with matching design.
L 91 cm.

In order to be able to meet the French Army's demand for hand-held weapons independently of imports from Solingen, Louis XV authorized the establishment of a Weapons Manufactory in Klingenthal in 1739. Occasionally, particularly sophisticated weapons were produced, such as this ceremonial sword; a rare example from the early days of the Manufactory, under Frédéric Wolff (1738-1745).